'We Owe Them': Rahul Gandhi Backs Jharkhand Students, Urges Soren to Act ASAP

Rahul Gandhi backed protesting Jharkhand students and urged Hemant Soren to personally intervene and resolve their remaining concerns over alleged paper leaks.

By Pranjal Gupta

New Delhi, August 17: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to resolve the issue of an alleged paper leak that has led thousands of students to take to the streets in protest, party's state in-charge K Raju said on Monday.

The demonstrators, who are government job aspirants, have alleged that the Soren government has failed to address their demands despite protests continuing for 24 days. The state government has held several rounds of talks with the students and has agreed to some of their demands.

The Congress leader conveyed his message to Soren in a letter sent on August 14 after student supporters demanded that the Congress withdraw its support from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led (JMM) government, as the two parties are part of a coalition government in Jharkhand.

"Gandhi wrote to Soren on August 14 and appreciated that the Jharkhand government has initiated a dialogue with the students through a committee instituted by the chief minister and has reached an agreement on several of their demands," Raju said at a press conference in Ranchi on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi has urged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to personally meet protesting students and address their remaining concerns.

In his letter to Soren, Gandhi said the youth of India are its future and asserted that "we owe them our solidarity and support at this moment of crisis".

"The Congress party believes that the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the Constitution of India is one of the central pillars of our democracy. We have, therefore, offered our full support to students protesting paper leaks and irregularities in the education system over the last few months," the Leader of Opposition said in his letter.

Pointing out that the protesters' demands were legitimate, Gandhi appreciated the Jharkhand government's move to initiate talks with the agitators.

"I am writing to suggest that you personally meet with representatives of the protesting students. This will help reinforce the government's commitment to resolve their remaining concerns," the former Congress chief said in his letter to Soren.

The Jharkhand government committee will hold fresh talks with a delegation of protesters led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch at 2 pm on Monday.

It will be the seventh round of talks between the government and the agitating students. The previous rounds failed to yield any breakthrough.

At the press conference, Raju also criticised the Centre over the passage of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Parliament, alleging that it was passed without holding any discussion with the states.

"This will impact states' finances, as they will not be able to impose cess on mining activities. The state's welfare schemes may get affected," he added.